Beating The Odds: How 1 man overcame homelessness, addiction

WEBVTT O ADRAMATIC EVENT IN HIS LIFE AND AMENTOR WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S GOINGTHROUGH.I DIDN'T THINK THAT PEOPLECARE THAT WAY.I DIDN'T.REPORTER AFTER MORE THAN 20YEARS OF LIVING ON THE STREETS,VERNON FULLMAN, LIKE MANY OTHERSDEALING WITH DRUG ADDICTION ANDHOMELESSNESS, HAD GIVEN UP HOPE.BUT THEN HE MET KENNETH WILSON.>> I'M HERE TO TELL YOU, TRUSTTHE PROCESS.TRUST THE PROCESS.TRY IT.KENNETH HAS BEEN THERE.REPORTERHE TOO SPENT MORE THAN 20 YEARSADDICTED AND ON THE STREETS.>> YOU GET COMFORTABLE WITHGOING TO MCDONALDS, LOCKING THEBATHROOM DOOR, TAKING YOURWASHCLOTH AND SOAP OUT ANDWASHING UP, CHANGING CLOTHES INTHE BATHROOM, AND HEY, STARTYOUR DAY.ANOTHER DAY TO USE TO LIVE, TOLIVE TO USREPORTER: KENNETH WAS ABLE TOTURN HIS LIFE AROUND.HE'S BEEN CLEAN FOR 8 YEARS, ANDIS NOW A PEER COUNSELOR FORPATHWAYS TO HOUSINWITH HIS EXPERIENCES, HE CANEARN THE TRUST O PEOPLE IN THEMIDST OF HOMELESSNESS AND DRUGSAND GIVE THEM HOPE.PATHWAYS IS SAYING HEY, WE'RENOT WORRYING ABOUT THAT.YOU'RE A HUMAN, YOU DESERVE AROOF OVER YOUR HEAD.BECAUSE WE REALIZE ONCE YOU GETTHIS, SOME NORMALCY COMES BACK.YOU START TO LOOK IN THE MIRRORAND YOU START FEELING HUMANAGAIN.REPORTER KENNETH AND PATHWAYSHELPED VERNON GET THISAPARTMENT.BUT AS FOR GETTING CLEAN, STARTED WHEN VERNON WATCHED ONEOF HIS FRIENDS DIE FROM USINGDRUGS.>> I SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO DIELIKE THAT."I GOT CLEAN.IT TOOK AWHILE.IT WAS HARD.BUT I GO CLEAN.REPORTER: NOW VERNON'S LIFE HASBEEN TRANSFORMED WITH THE HELPOF SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE.>> I'M SUPER PROUD OF VERNON.I CONTINUE TO PUSH HIM.I CONTINUE TO PUSH HIM TO HIGHERHEIGHTS.IT DOESN'T STOP HERE.I THINK ALL OF US PESPECIALISTS HAVE A HEART FORTHIS BECAUSE OF WHERE WE WERWHERE WE ARE NOW AND HOW SOMEONEIMPACTED OUR LIVES REPORTER:.JERE GISH, NEWS EIGHT.KIM: YOU CAN SEE JERRY'S STORY